Spizarny named new Erie police chief

Friday

The longtime officer was tapped by Mayor-Elect Joe Schember to lead the 173-member police force, replacing Donald Dacus.

Erie Mayor-elect Joe Schember has made a change in leadership in the Erie Bureau of Police, tapping longtime city police officer Dan Spizarny to serve as police chief in his administration.

Spizarny, 52, a 27-year member of the 173-officer city police force, will replace Donald Dacus, 43, who has served as chief since September 2016 following the retirement of Randy Bowers.

Spizarny is tentatively scheduled to be sworn in on Jan. 3, Schember said.

Schember said Friday that one of the main reasons he chose Spizarny as chief is because the importance both men place on community policing and on Unified Erie, an anti-violence initiative involving multiple agencies that launched in 2011.

"One of the most important things is the importance of community policing and that our police are not just arresting people and putting them in jail, but are trying to build relationships with the community," Schember said in announcing Spizarny's appointment. "Give these inner-city kids a chance to get to know those people, and maybe become policemen themselves down the road."

Schember added that the collaborative efforts of Unified Erie are important to him, and that Spizarny is as committed to it as he is.

The mayor-elect said that during his campaign, he spoke to about 12 different city police officers he respects to get their opinions on the police force.

"There does seem to be some low morale right now in the police department," Schember said. "Also, I was really looking for 100 percent commitment to community policing and Unified Erie, which I think are two very important programs that can really change the whole criminal situation here in Erie. Dan has those commitments, he really believes in community policing. And we've got a great start on it with the Police Athletic League, but that's just the start."

Spizarny said he looks forward to the challenge of heading the department. He said he and Schember have discussed plans, and both agree they need to take a measured approach "where we talk to people, get citizens' opinions on where we need to go and slowly build the department in that direction."

Spizarny said he believes his experience on the city police force, which he joined in March 1990, will serve him well as chief. He has worked in both patrol and as a criminal investigator has served on the SWAT Team for more than 20 years, and is currently an insurance fraud investigator.

"So I know most of the jobs. There are very few jobs in the department I haven't done, so I hope to take that knowledge and put it to use," he said.

Spizarny said there is "transition" going on in the police bureau's command staff, which includes two deputy chiefs, and his staff will be named once the plans are finalized.

Dacus said Friday that he will remain on the police force as a detective sergeant. He said he will continue to serve Erie "to the best of my ability as I have always done, and I wish the new command staff the best of luck."

"I'm proud of the work that the command staff and myself have accomplished over the last 15 months," he said. "I believe we improved community relations as well as created a new community policing effort within the police department."

Tim Hahn can be reached at 870-1731 or by email. Follow him on Twitter at www.twitter.com/ETNhahn.

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